Kidou Okamoto - Kidou Okamoto

Playwright and novelist. Real name Keiji. Also known as Kyokido and master of Kojiro. Born on October 15, 1872 in Shiba Takanawa, Tokyo. His father Keinosuke was a samurai with a stipend of 120 koku, who later worked at the British Embassy. After graduating from Tokyo Prefectural First Middle School, he joined the Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun in 1890 (Meiji 23). He moved from one company to another, writing theater reviews and writing plays. His first original play was "Kin no Shachi Hoko Wasa no Takanami," a collaboration with Oka Kitaro, at the Kabukiza in January 1902 (Meiji 35). Then, in July 1908, he wrote "Before and After the Restoration" for Ichikawa Sadanji II at Kawakami Otojiro's innovative performance, which led to a partnership between the two, and his "Shuzenji Monogatari" was a success at the Meijiza Theater in May 1911, marking his breakthrough as a new Kabuki playwright. In 1913 (Taisho 2), he left his life as a journalist to dedicate himself to writing plays, releasing a succession of plays, including "Muromachi Gosho," "Sasaki Takatsuna," "Toribeyama Shinju," "Banchō Sarayashiki," and "Onoe Idahachi," mainly for Sadanji, and from 1916 he began writing "Hanshichi Torimonochō" (68 chapters), becoming a pioneer of the genre.

In February 1919, he visited the European and American theater world, and after the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, he moved around a number of times, during which time he released works such as "Ume no Yoshibee," "Gonza and Sukeju," "Shinjuku Yawa," and "Miura Rojin Mukashibanashi." During the Showa period, he wrote works such as "Mikawa Banzai," "Shosetsu no Nidaime," "Sōma no Kinsan," and "Osada no Adauchi," and showed a taste of serenity and poetry, moving from historical plays that emphasized themes to domestic plays and comedies. In 1930 (Showa 5), ​​he launched the monthly drama magazine "Butai," providing guidance to the younger generation and a forum for publishing their works. In 1937, he became a member of the Imperial Academy of Arts. He died on March 1, 1939.

[Akira Kikuchi]

"Selected Plays of Kido Okamoto, 8 volumes (1958-59, Seigabo)" ▽ "Kido Chronicles, by Keiichi Okamoto (1951, Dokosha)" ▽ "Tales of Edo, edited by Ryoei Kishii (1955, Seigabo)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

劇作家、小説家。本名敬二。別号狂綺堂、甲字楼主人。明治5年10月15日、東京、芝高輪(しばたかなわ)に生まれる。父敬之助はもと120石取の御家人(ごけにん)で、のちイギリス大使館勤務。東京府立一中卒業後、1890年（明治23）東京日日新聞社に入社。以後各社を転々としつつ劇評を執筆、また劇作に励んだ。1902年（明治35）1月歌舞伎座(かぶきざ)での岡鬼太郎(おにたろう)との合作『黄金鯱噂高浪(きんのしゃちほこうわさのたかなみ)』が自作上演の最初。ついで1908年7月、川上音二郎の革新興行で、2世市川左団次のために『維新前後』を書いて両者の提携が生まれ、1911年5月明治座上演の『修禅寺(しゅぜんじ)物語』が成功して、新歌舞伎作者としての出世作となった。1913年（大正2）から記者生活を離れ、作者活動に専念、主として左団次のために『室町御所』『佐々木高綱』『鳥辺山(とりべやま)心中』『番町皿屋敷』『尾上伊太八(おのえいだはち)』等を次々と発表、また1916年からは『半七捕物帳』（68編）を起稿して捕物帳の先駆をなした。

　1919年2月欧米劇壇を視察、1923年関東大震災後居所を転々、その間に『梅の由兵衛(よしべえ)』『権三(ごんざ)と助十(すけじゅう)』『新宿夜話』のほか、『三浦老人昔話』等を発表、昭和期に『三河万歳』『正雪(しょうせつ)の二代目』『相馬の金さん』『おさだの仇討(あだうち)』等があり、以前の主題を強調した歴史物から世話物や喜劇に転じ、詩情をたたえた枯淡の味をみせた。1930年（昭和5）月刊戯曲雑誌『舞台』を創刊し、後進の指導と作品発表の場をつくった。1937年帝国芸術院会員。昭和14年3月1日没。

［菊池　明］

『『岡本綺堂戯曲選集』全8巻（1958～59・青蛙房）』▽『岡本経一著『綺堂年代記』（1951・同光社）』▽『岸井良衛編『岡本綺堂江戸に就ての話』（1955・青蛙房）』

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